Hand winch - opinions ?

I want a manual winch, and have seen there before http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/4-TON-HEAVY-DUTY- ... 111wt_1139 . I do not want a winch mounted on a car and I wouldn't expect something like the one in the link to pull me head first out of a ditch (Think of simo at the annual and you'll know what I mean). But I thought it might be enough to drag it back onto 4 wheels when it looses drive or to pull out of the slippy stuff.

I envisaged using it with a ground anchor or attaching it to an accompanying vehicle.

Any thoughts ?

Tirfor is must better and easier to use...the ones you are looking at are ok, but are fiddly and take ages to move anything...

Ok, have used them, as well as vehicle mounted winches.

If you have another vehicle to attach it to DONT, just use a strop and tow the car.

If you get one the remember its about 6 blokes pushing, so will get you out of a cross axle or light stuck, but not up to the axles in mud.
1 other thing that I recomend you get with it is a 10 ton 8m / 10m ratchet strap, so you arent limmited to the 3m of cable on the winch to find some where to anchore too. With the ratchet strap you can ractchet in the slack when your ready and just winch in the bits you need. Its is heavy work even with a light car, only moved a Terios 3ft but it was hard work.

Think they are a great bit of kit if you are out on your own or in a small group with out a vehicle winch.

Trev

I think fudge is the one to answer this. He has used one on one of the weekenders

Hmm, typical , Tirfor is 10 times the price.

If it will work, albeit not being ideal, then I might give it a go. I've only had a need for one on one occasion since I've owned the truck, so it's not something that will be in regular use.

Cheers Andy, C'mon Fudge, where are ya ? :wink:

I have got one the same as fudges...they can be useful, but I wouldnt buy one again as there are much better things that will get you unstuck easier and take up the same space in the boot...
Also messing with stuff with wires on at its load capacity with your fingers and face only inches away is a recipe for disaster....much better to have a better tool where you will be safer and only tickling its capacity.

Tirfor is worth every penny...its 50 times the tool, for only 10 times the price...

I certainly won't be spending £150+ on one , if that was the only choice I just wouldn't bother to be honest.

I'll see how Fudge managed recovering his with it and make a decision - but at the end of the day 15 sheets it's worth it as I'll probably find a use for it elsewhere.

Fudge managed to drag his car up a slope up the woods with his, as I have done with mine before...The car wasnt stuck as such, or dug in, it just didnt have enough traction as the clutch was fried...
I have used mine a few times for holding up the back of cars to stop em sliding down sideslopes, but in honesty a rachet strap is quicker safer and easier to use...
The wire on this is the same thickness as on a typical car trailer winch, great for rolling loads, but a bit thin for real heavy stuck stuff...The nature of switching direction, or repulling the wire for a second pull, involves some quite tricky stuff, mainly with your fingers perilously close or in the mechanism.

In which case it's probably ideal for the what I was intending to use it for. Think I'll have a punt.

As an ex RE I would say Tirfor Winch every time. More pulling power, safer etc etc.

These things are okay I guess but theres no way I would want to go anywhere near the advertised SWL while stood within range of the cable when one of the hooks gives way. Tellingly it doesnt say where it's made, although at a guess and with that price I would say China and we know what their track records like with Quality Control...

I would be happy to use it for tensioning LV overhead power lines or dragging either a boat or car onto a trailer but thats about it. Wonder how it would get on being subjected to a competent persons inspection under the LOLER regs?

got one in van but like greg said take ages to move anything and is hard work cheaper option but you need plenty patience

My hand winch as been used in anger 3 times now - as per the general consensus, not ideal but will do a limited job.
The very first time it was used was down the woods, trying to pull a fronty back up the Stump Garden hill - on real pressure, it cracked one of the alloy racket cog teeth - still usable, but need to be aware where the problem is and not overload it. Other than that, it was been used for anchoring (Hounddog down the woods) and Fudge on a green laning trip (pulling him back up off a bank rather than fighting to get him out from a dug in position). Also used it to pull the gearbox back off the unbolted engine on my under repair leafer.
The other option is using a high lift jack for pulling motors. Don't know how safe that is, but have seen a few pics of peeps doing it.

i do agree it is very usefull to have and have goten me out of a few sticky places.
but saying that mine only cost me £2 and is an american one, so to propper standereds.

but it is all about what you want it for, as ive looked at getting one of these 2ton elec ones to attach to a tow bar (since i have front and rear)